Fiji Airways in compliance with the directive by Australia’s Civil Aviation Safety Authority has suspended all Boeing 737 Max  8 operations to and from Australia.

In a statement, Fiji Airways says it’s confident in the airworthiness of their Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft and robust training programme.

The national airline says it respects CASA’s position and will be changing the aircraft type operating to and from Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and Adelaide until further advised.

Some schedule changes are likely and affected customers will be notified.

Fiji Airways says it will continue to monitor the situation closely, and remain in constant contact with all relevant state regulators and authorities.

Latest from Fiji Airways. #FijiNews pic.twitter.com/fRec4K3m5D

— Filipe Naikaso (@fnaikaso) March 12, 2019

Meanwhile, the troubled Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft has been banned from Australian airspace in the wake of the horror Ethiopian Airlines crash that killed 157 people.

Australia’s Civil Aviation Safety Authority had announced it was temporarily suspending operation of the planes while investigations into the cause of the accident continues.